Oiler Fans and Their Fascination on Vladimir Sobotka

[doulos]

He's a versatile 3rd line center who can play up in the lineup and play with skill players should you need it. He's strong defensively. He's elite on faceoffs. He's physical. He kills penalties. And he'd potentially be cheap to acquire in terms of assets. And he's not a guy at the end of his career so he could be a part of the organization 4+ years if the fit was good.

Those are the reasons why people think he'd be a good fit in Edmonton.

61.9 % and first in the entire NHL in faceoffs his final season. Elite is exactly what he is on the draw.

 

[Comic Book Guy*]

He is >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>than Pitlick and >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>than Purcell. it's not even close.

Finally. Empirical data that I can understand. Thank you.

 

[doulos]

An interesting NHL.com article on him. Check it out toppep. Lots of great things about him.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=714048

 

[Spawn]

Additionally, don't think about it as a replacement for Lander. Think about it as a replacement for Roy.

Lander/Sobotka is 2/3rds of what could be a very, very good two-way third line. That can not only put up points, but take on difficult defensive responsibility. Combine that with the Wagon line and your bottom 6 all of a sudden is looking fantastic.

 

[Macblender]

Additionally, don't think about it as a replacement for Lander. Think about it as a replacement for Roy.

Lander/Sobotka is 2/3rds of what could be a very, very good two-way third line. That can not only put up points, but take on difficult defensive responsibility. Combine that with the Wagon line and your bottom 6 all of a sudden is looking fantastic.

Exactly this you just have to find the last 3rd of that line. We have the top 6 offensive guys but if you find the right guy to finish that line it and they click we could potentially have the best top 9 in the league in 2-3 years.

Klinkhammer is the guy Potluck is looking to beat out for a spot so sobotka has no effect on him.

 

[phrenssoa]

Travis Morin has been scoring at over a PPG clip in the AHL for some time now. Same with Alexandre Giroux.

What's your point? The AHL is not the NHL. In the NHL, he spent 4-5 seasons scoring at a 0.15 PPG clip. That's Lennart Petrell guys!

Right, but have you ever seen a .40 ppg AHL player (Pitlick) end up providing a good dose of secondary scoring in the NHL? I see Pitlick as an okay 4th liner, whereas Sobotka is a great middle-six guy.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

With the Nuge already on the team, McDavid coming at the draft, if the team can add and retain Sobotka, they would be truly set down the middle for a long time.

 

[Comic Book Guy*]

Right, but have you ever seen a .40 ppg AHL player (Pitlick) end up providing a good dose of secondary scoring in the NHL? I see Pitlick as an okay 4th liner, whereas Sobotka is a great middle-six guy.

No, but have you heard about Milan Lucic?

In his first year of junior, here were his box cars:

2005-06 Vancouver Giants WHL 62GP 9G 10A 19PTS

Now he's 30-30 powerforward.

So yes... people can have a bad minor/junior career and excel in the NHL. Sure.

 

[McDeathbyCheerios*]

People who have watched how he plays tell you what he brings. And all you have showed is that he is small and has put up average third line points and became more productive as he has aged.

People have an obsession with size over anything. It's like saying Purcell is a more physical player cause he is taller.

Players in the ice would be more scared of getting hit by Sobotka then most people on our team.

 

[Macblender]

With the Nuge already on the team, McDavid coming at the draft, if the team can add and retain Sobotka, they would be truly set down the middle for a long time.

Which is key Lander, Drai, and Sobotka can all play wing or centre. Then you factor in the great unknowns of Yak2 (possibly turns into a hulking 3c), and Khaira (at best a 4C IMO).

We are trying to set ourselves up long term at centre here. Just remember when Nuge or McDavid goes down.

You still have 1 of them then:
Lander
Sobotka
Draisaitl
Gordon

That is some solid centre depth of guys who can play it well you aren't completely done if one of your top 2 guys goes down now. This is the depth chart I would potentially have next year can flip lander and Sobotka on the chart and Draisaitl will slowly move up the chart over the next 1-2 years.


Then you need to think that with our top 6 guys playing big minutes you need guys to take the PK and relieve them a bit of the harder EV5x5 mins if possible which you can do with a solid third line which Sobotka-Lander-XX would do.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Which is key Lander, Drai, and Sobotka can all play wing or centre. Then you factor in the great unknowns of Yak2 (possibly turns into a hulking 3c), and Khaira (at best a 4C IMO).

We are trying to set ourselves up long term at centre here. Just remember when Nuge or McDavid goes down.

You still have 1 of them then:
Lander
Sobotka
Draisaitl
Gordon

That is some solid centre depth of guys who can play it well you aren't completely done if one of your top 2 guys goes down now. This is the depth chart I would potentially have next year can flip lander and Sobotka on the chart and Draisaitl will slowly move up the chart over the next 1-2 years.


Then you need to think that with our top 6 guys playing big minutes you need guys to take the PK and relieve them a bit of the harder EV5x5 mins if possible which you can do with a solid third line which Sobotka-Lander-XX would do.

You move Gordon, he doesn't even enter the conversation. There's nothing not to like about Sobotka.

 

[Macblender]

No, but have you heard about Milan Lucic?

In his first year of junior, here were his box cars:

2005-06 Vancouver Giants WHL 62GP 9G 10A 19PTS

Now he's 30-30 powerforward.

So yes... people can have a bad minor/junior career and excel in the NHL. Sure.

Is Pitlick that now? Not even close.

Lucic jumped right from junior the NHL and produced decently for a 3rd liner we have yet to see that type of production that would indicate Pitlick could do that in his NHL stints or AHL time.

 

[Macblender]

You move Gordon, he doesn't even enter the conversation. There's nothing not to like about Sobotka.

IMO next year you keep them all and don't resign Gordon you hope by then that Yak2 is ready for 4th line duty as a cheaper option.

 

[Jet Walters]

Is it just me, or does every 3rd trade proposal include Vladimir Sobotka?

Why?

1. THE OILERS DO NOT NEED ANY MORE SMALL PLAYERS

It's been repeated time and again that the Oilers do not need any more small players. It's perplexing that Oiler fans continue to chase Sobotka as if he was some kind of good match up against Getzlaf, Thornton or Crosby. Here are his vitals:

Vladimir Sobotka
Height 5'9.5
Weight: 190lbs

This guy is just about as tall as Roy or Arcobello. Take that Reaves!


2. THE OILERS NEED SECONDARY SCORING

And how exactly will they get secondary scoring from Sobotka? By praying for offense?

2007: 1G 6A 7 PTS 0.146 PPG
2008: 1G 4A 5 PTS 0.200 PPG
2009: 4G 6A 10 PTS 0.164 PPG
2010: 7G 22A 29 PTS 0.475 PPG
2011:5G 15A 20PTS 0.274
2012: 8G 11A 19PTS 0.396 PPG
2013: 9G 24A 33PTS 0.54 PPG

CAREER: 35G 88A 123 PTS 0.322 PPG

Why in the world are we trading assets to St.Louis for a guy that has been outscored by Rob Klinhammer, Marc Arcobello and Anton Lander?

He's small, scores once every 3 games, and provides almost no offense.

Am I missing something?

Yesterday you suggested the Oilers pursue Martin St. Louis. Why the sudden change of heart? Am I missing something? And please don't post anymore pictures of Marty's legs.

 

[Seachd]

The OP obviously has a bias against Sobotka, and contrary to his claims, hasn't given us any examples of how he wouldn't be a good pickup for the Oilers, and actually goes to extreme exaggerations to try to prove a point.

I'd guess we're being trolled, but if not, the simple answer is that he brings almost everything a team would want in a 3rd liner.

 

[McDeathbyCheerios*]

Is Pitlick that now? Not even close.

Lucic jumped right from junior the NHL and produced decently for a 3rd liner we have yet to see that type of production that would indicate Pitlick could do that in his NHL stints or AHL time.

Pitlick gets injured within 2 games if all his goals. It would be impossible for him to put up that many goals.

 

[HeavyHitter99]

He is >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>than Pitlick and >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>than Purcell. it's not even close.

This. But anyways a mod should just close this thread as the OP hasn't actually watched Sobotka play to know how valuable he can be.

But he's also the guy that this week said Barzal is a generational talent and will be the best player from this draft becasue of his U18 McDavid had a better U18 2 years ago

 

[Comic Book Guy*]

Is Pitlick that now? Not even close.

Lucic jumped right from junior the NHL and produced decently for a 3rd liner we have yet to see that type of production that would indicate Pitlick could do that in his NHL stints or AHL time.

Do we ignore that Pitlick was a prolific scorer in junior?

2010-11 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 56GP 27G 35A 62PTS 1.10 PPG

And he has been a pretty solid contributor in the AHL:

2013 0.56 PPG 46 Points Pace
2014 0.64 PPG 53 Points Pace

And he did all of that while being injured, playing bottom 6 minutes.

You are all making him seem like an afterthought.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

IMO next year you keep them all and don't resign Gordon you hope by then that Yak2 is ready for 4th line duty as a cheaper option.

You trade Gordon this year, so you can have the cap space to make other things, like long terming Sobotka (should he be picked up) happen.

 

[Macblender]

Pitlick gets injured within 2 games if all his goals. It would be impossible for him to put up that many goals.

Which is why you don't rely on him being more than a 4th liner until he proves he is. He needs to work his way up the depth chart and is nothing like lucic. Let him displace Klinkhammer and why worry about a player that may not make the team when acquiring a solid 3rd liner.

 

[HeavyHitter99]

The OP obviously has a bias against Sobotka, and contrary to his claims, hasn't given us any examples of how he wouldn't be a good pickup for the Oilers, and actually goes to extreme exaggerations to try to prove a point.

I'd guess we're being trolled, but if not, the simple answer is that he brings almost everything a team would want in a 3rd liner.

We aren't being trolled, all his posts are brutal. Unless he's just trolling all of HF

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Do we ignore that Pitlick was a prolific scorer in junior?

2010-11 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 56GP 27G 35A 62PTS 1.10 PPG

And he has been a pretty solid contributor in the AHL:

2013 0.56 PPG 46 Points Pace
2014 0.64 PPG 53 Points Pace

And he did all of that while being injured, playing bottom 6 minutes.

You are all making him seem like an afterthought.

He is an after thought, it's why he got waived out of camp this past year, and I don't know if you saw this team, they weren't hard to make.

 

[McDraekke]

I'm not attacking you guys. I just want you all to get a grip on reality here.

When you have a different view of reality from everyone else.... who doesn't have the grip? Not trying to bash you or anything, just suggesting that perhaps you are missing something that others are seeing. You can't make a judgement on a player just by going off of numbers. His size, weight, points, etc. Sobotka is a hard worker, and that is something that this team needs. Hendricks, Gordon and Klink have shown how that can boost a team. Bring in Sobotka to play with Lander and whoever else is on the third line and that would be fantastic. Lander isn't huge, doesn't get a ton of points, but the guy is turning into a pretty decent 3rd liner because he is a hard worker.

With a top 6 that includes McDavid, RNH, Hall, Eberle, Yakupov... we don't need a high scoring 3rd line... just one that can hold it's own against any line and that can chip in points every now and again. A line of Sobotka - Lander - Miller, as an example could probably hold their own against top lines because they work hard.

 

[HeavyHitter99]

Do we ignore that Pitlick was a prolific scorer in junior?

2010-11 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 56GP 27G 35A 62PTS 1.10 PPG

And he has been a pretty solid contributor in the AHL:

2013 0.56 PPG 46 Points Pace
2014 0.64 PPG 53 Points Pace

And he did all of that while being injured, playing bottom 6 minutes.

You are all making him seem like an afterthought.

What in the honest ****? pitlick wasn't a prolific scorer. 1.1 ppg in the year after being drafted in the 2nd round is not impressive at all. You don't have a clue do you?

 

[Macblender]

You trade Gordon this year, so you can have the cap space to make other things, like long terming Sobotka (should he be picked up) happen.

I can get behind trading gordon at the trade deadline.

The thing is Sobotka before arbitration wanted 3-3.25 million it was rumoured and he didn't want to take less. That is Boyd Gordon money he was awarded a 1 year 2.725 million dollar deal in arbitration and that is the contract he has to fill so we would resign him next offseason most likely for 3-3.25 million which would be fine by me. That is a 0.5 mill raise of a cap hit potentially which you don't necessarily have to move a guy to fit if you are able to fit the 2.725 in the first place.